^T. 72.] TO GEORGE BENTHAM. 741 



from liim, and to know how he is getting on at Ox- 

 ford, I cannot pay my debt to him to-day. And some 

 twinges tell me that it is time to spare you. 



I wiU just add that what we hear prepares us to 

 expect that before this reaches you, or even leaves this 

 country, we may hear that the good and wise Arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury wiU have gone to his rest ; and 

 Gladstone will have a most responsible as well as the 

 most dignified position to fill. 



TO GEOEGE BENTHAM. 



Cambridge, December 17, 1882. 



I must not let the New Year come to you without 

 repairing my delay in the way of letter-writing, and 

 sending you greeting and good wishes for the season. 

 Especially I may congratulate you, and felicitate our- 

 selves, that is, we botanists, that you have, or will 

 have, brought your opus magnum to a completion ! 

 — proof-reading excepted. A great thing to have done. 

 I did not make reply to your last of October 14, be- 

 cause I really could say nothing about the Eriocau- 

 lonese. . . . 



Yes, I have De Candolle on Cultivated Plants, and 

 am well pleased with it, so far as I have looked it 

 over. 



Thanks for your complimentary mention of my 

 notice of Darwin. I have since sent you another 

 brochure, an exhortation to my botanical compatriots 

 to have more consideration for my time, considering 

 how little is left, and what a deal of use I have for 

 it. I can hope only to palliate the evil a little. 



Your life has been a most enviable one, in being 

 able so to arrange and control your time, and with 

 your indomitable industry, perseverance, and judgment. 



